On Jan. 10, 1961, External D&C No. 15, a red color additive widely used in cosmetics before it was taken off the FDA’s list of approved colors in 1960 because of safety concerns, was cleared for uses outside of the body. However, this “external use” did not include lipsticks.

With the passage of the Color Additive Amendments in 1960, the FDA began a safety review of the approximately 200 color additives that were in use at the time. Today, about half of the original 200 colors have passed that review and remain in use.